The clients of a five Otago rural transport companies missed out on a calendar and Christmas ‘‘do'' this year but are happy the goodwill has been redirected to a more important cause.
The Road Transport Logistics Group decided to dispense with calendars and Christmas functions this year, instead donating $10,000 to the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust.
The group is the parent body of West Otago Transport, Clinton Waipahi Holdings Ltd, Tuapeka Transport, Beckers Transport and Buchanan Transport.
Group managing director Sharon Roberston said the feedback had been great.
‘‘Everyone's said ‘well done'.''
She said it was difficult to host Christmas functions as it was ‘‘a mad time, and everyone has so much on this time of year''.
he group asked its staff for ideas on which organisation to donate to and the rescue helicopter trust was the favoured option.
‘‘The calendars cost so much to produce these days and when we distribute them, people will say they already get three or four other ones.
‘‘So this year we took the plunge and flagged away the calendars and the client dos, giving the money to the rescue helicopter instead. It covers our whole patch and it's just an essential service in rural Otago. The gesture went down really well,'' Mrs Robertson said.
